Alberto Fernandez, an unlikely leader in Latin America [View all]

[sandensea]

Presiding over a country in distress in the third year of a severe recession and struggling to renegotiate catastrophic international debt will usually eliminate the desire for a larger international role.

But these are not usual times for Argentina’s practical centre-left leaders.

Alberto Fernández, 61, has established itself as a natural leader in Latin America, devastated by the coronavirus, plagued by serious social and economic problems, and lacking international tycoons.

The president spelled out his message last month virtually at Davos World Economic Forum. He said the pandemic was “a wake-up call to build a common home on different foundations.”

Fernández visited the conservative leaders of Chile and Uruguay, bridging left and right, while celebrating the recent victory by socialists in elections in Bolivia - whose return to democracy after a year of dictatorship Fernández was given substantial credit for by both deposed President Evo Morales and Bolivia's new leader, Luis Arce.

This week, Fernández will visit Mexico as the only Latin American leader invited by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to commemorate Mexico's Bicentennial.

This diplomatic effort is timely. The Biden administration has provided Latin America with a new agenda, leaving Trump-era pressure on Cuban and Venezuelan immigrants and regime change, embracing the fight for human rights, environmental protection and against corruption.

But Fernández needs a partner.

“Looking at the region, we lack leadership,” said Tom Long, an associate professor at the University of Warwick’s new global force.

At: https://eminetra.co.uk/alberto-fernandez-an-unlikely-leader-in-latin-america/306872/ (originally published in the Financial Times)

Argentine President Alberto Fernández (center) strolls with part of his cabinet outside the Casa Rosada on Friday.

Beset by a “Macrisis” inherited from his Trump-backed predecessor, Fernández's 14 months in office have largely been preoccupied with economic recovery, debt refinance, and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Fernández has meanwhile sought good relations with both left and right-wing neighboring leaders, and enjoys a good rapport with President Joe Biden.

Michael Shifter, president Inter-American Dialogue, believes Buenos Aires can play a role in mediating diplomatic solutions to the Venezuelan crisis. The United States may also be interested in renewable energy partnerships.

But he said, “As long as Argentina is in economic crisis, its effectiveness as a US partner on Venezuela, climate and other issues will be limited.”